Brancott Estate is the brand adopted since 2010 by Pernod Ricard for New Zealand's largest wine producer, formerly Montana Wines, which now operates as the New Zealand division of Pernod Ricard Winemakers. The name comes from its Brancott winery in Blenheim, and was chosen to reduce confusion in the United States market with wines from the state of Montana. The winery has been significant enough throughout New Zealand's wine history that the Montana name is still used on domestic labelling due to its strong brand recognition. History of Montana Wines Montana was founded by Ivan and Amanda Yukich (Jukić), Croatian immigrants who planted their first vines in 1934, in Titirangi, situated in the Waitākere Ranges west of Auckland. The first wine was sold in 1944, and by 1960 of vineyards were planted. Ivan's sons, Mate and Frank, had become involved, and they set up the company Montana Wines in 1961. By the end of the 1960s, the company had expanded further, planting vines on land south of Auckland. In 1973, the company expanded into Gisborne and Marlborough and exported its first wines in 1980. Montana was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, initially as 'Corporate Investments Limited', and then as Montana Wines. It was the main sponsor of the Montana New Zealand Book Awards from 1994 to 2009. In 2000, Montana successfully purchased Corbans Wines, New Zealand's second largest producer at the time, to control 60% of domestic wine sales and a large majority of the country's wine exports. Montana was then itself taken over by the British firm Allied Domecq in 2001 after eventually outbidding Lion Nathan, and four years later Allied Domecq was bought by Pernod Ricard in 2005. In 2010, Pernod Ricard sold off several of its brands, including Lindauer and Corbans Wines, to a partnership formed between Lion and Indevin, another large New Zealand wine operator. Wineries Montana Wines at various times has had several wineries spread around the country. Brancott Winery Located on State Highway 1, just south of Blenheim, the Brancott winery was opened in 1977 and produces all of its Marlborough wines (mostly Sauvignon Blanc), and wine from Waipara vineyards as well. Many of the grapes for Montana's sparkling wines are pressed here, but secondary fermentation is carried out at the Tamaki Winery. Church Road Winery Founded in 1897, the Church Road Winery is one of the three oldest in the Hawkes